FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Explore our FAQs answers to frequently asked questions about our collection and services. If you can’t find the information you need, please feel free to contact us.
Get your questions answered.
Books can be returned to the book drop in the basement of the Infant Building, the circulation desk in the Primary Library, or the book drop near the Secondary Library. While we encourage timely returns, we’re always happy to receive books back, even if they’re overdue.
If you have lost or damaged a library book, you may need to replace it to prevent having your borrowing privileges restricted or receiving an invoice for a replacement from the Finance Department. Please contact the library to check if your book qualifies for an exemption based on its age, cost, or usage.
If you do need to replace it, you can replace the exact title yourself by purchasing it at a local bookstore, or online.
We recommend our overseas supplier, Blackwell's, as they offer free shipping to Singapore. You can even have the book shipped directly to school. Simply email us your confirmed order with our address included, and we will consider the book replaced. Alternatively, when you bring the replacement copy to the library, we will update your record accordingly.
Our local recommended suppliers are Closetful of Books and Kinokuniya.
Once you’ve placed the order and sent a copy of the delivery confirmation to Library East at (libraryeast@uwcsea.edu.sg ), it will be taken off your library record immediately - there’s no need to wait for the book to arrive.
Delivery Address
Library (choose one: Secondary or Primary)
UWC East campus
1 Tampines St. 73
Singapore 528704
If the exact book is no longer available for purchase or is no longer needed by the library, the librarian will recommend a suitable replacement of equal value.
Please note that once the Finance Department has issued an invoice, we will be unable to accept a replacement or returned book, as it will have already been removed from the library system.
Yes, it is possible to renew a book. You have several options.
Option 1: Login to your Follett Destiny account and renew within the "My Info" tab.
Option 2: If you have forgotten your login details, you can email Library East at libraryeast@uwcsea.edu.sg and include the book title, your name, and the 9 digit library barcode beginning with a "U".
Option 3: Visit the library to have the book renewed.
Using a Browser:
Access the library catalog at https://uwcsea.follettdestiny.com/.
Choose the catalog you wish to search from the list displayed.
Click the LOGIN button in the top-right corner of the screen.
Log in using your GAPPS username and password. Parents who have joined the library will have been assigned a username. Note: You can search the catalog without logging in, but your search will be limited. You’ll also be unable to see all collections or view your loans unless logged in.
After logging in, click the CATALOG tab. Use BASIC or POWER searches to refine your search by location, material type, and apply other filters.
Yes, we do. Our policy can be found here.
You can find our borrowing policy here.
While we do occasionally accept donations we do find that at certain times we simply have too many to cope with.
Any books donated to the library should fit the following criteria:
In excellent condition (no brown edges, torn pages or books that have been written in)
Are current and not out-dated (non-fiction books should not have been published more than 5 years ago)
Meet the collection development policy of the library in alignment with the school curriculum and pedagogical approaches
Please do not leave books at or outside the library or in the dropbox. We find it very difficult to dispose of unwanted books.
If your books do meet these conditions, and you have checked with the library staff, please deliver them in person to one of the libraries. The library reserves the right to use or dispose of donated books in whatever way that they deem appropriate. This may include passing them on to others or re-purposing them for art or recycling projects.
Due to space and time constraints, the library may not always be able to accept used books.
However, you can donate them to our PA East for The Family Festival at East, typically held in March, generally begins accepting book donations at the end of February. For more details, please contact them at paeastffcommunications@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg to discuss donations.
Other organisations that are open to book donations are:
Sony’s South Africa Mobile Library Project (SAMLP) - Donated books are sent to South Africa - Donate between September and October at the Sony Store located at #02-28/37, 313@Somerset. Visit their website for more information. Books Beyond Borders - sells gently-read books to raise funds for educational projects in rural places needing a literacy boost. Check their website for what they do and don’t accept.
Dignity Mama - An initiative by social enterprise Project Dignity. Fill in this form to arrange to drop off your books, and a Dignity Mama manager will be in touch. One Bag One Book - the aim for One Bag One Book is to put a book in every migrant worker’s bag. Donate Books in English, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Singhalese, and other South Asian languages. Preferably novels, poetry, history, and motivational books. e: onebagonebook@gmail.com w: https://migrantwriters.sg
Red Shield Industries by The Salvation Army. Drop off your items at any of the Donation-In-Kind booths. Locations of the booths can be found here. Thryft - Dedicated to recirculating quality books and clothes responsibly. Drop off your items at #02-08, Peace Centre or #02-00, 23 Kian Teck Road (books only). For over 200 items, you can arrange for a pick-up service for a flat $15 fee. Books Don’t Throw (Singapore) - Books Don’t Throw (Singapore) is the largest local book-sharing Facebook group. Join the Facebook group and post photos and details of what you want to barter or give away.
The library has a list of organisations that will receive bigger quantities of books from time to time.
Bookreach - sends books to needy schools in East Malaysia - e: jasmine@iec.com.my | w: www.iec.com.my
A Closetful of Books - accepts and distributes books to appropriate groups in Singapore -
e: stories@closetfulofbooks.com or p: +65 6908 5510
PNG Partnerships for Improving Education - sends books to Papua New Guinea - e: mihyunbray@gmail.com
CSB Rohingya Refugee School - in Johor, Malaysia. Very specific needs - Please contact the Junior School Office at UWCSEA East.
Please contact us if you discover other places accepting book donations. We will update this page with your suggestions.
